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Here are the top stories, blurbs and links from across the SEC West today:

Bama:  Alabama looked good early, but struggled late as Clemson pulled away to a 66-59 win on their home floor last night. 

Bama:  Ronald Steele didn't find the loss to the 12th ranked Tigers all bad.  "We're encouraged by this.  But every game, we just hit a point where we let down a little bit.  We need to find a way to play solid the entire game."

Bama:  Clemson owes Alabama $72,000 for stealing away Kevin Steele from the Tide.

AU:  After building up his offensive coaching staff, Gene Chizik has hired Ted Roof to oversee his defensive staff as his defensive coordinator.  Roof comes to The Plains after a one-year stint at Minnesota, following a head coaching position at Duke.  Another solid hire for Chizik.

AU:  Even Paul Finebaum of The Mobile Press-Register writes: "Perhaps we better put a hold on that obit for Gene Chizik, after all."

AU:  One player who'll never play a snap under Chizik is cornerback Jerraud Powers.  He joins defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks in leaving Auburn early for the NFL's riches.  (Or what they hope will be NFL riches.)

AU:  On the basketball front, Jeff Lebo needs to win and win now.

LSU:  "It was an old fashioned butt-whipping."  That's how Trent Johnson described his team's 91-61 blowout loss at Utah last night.  Turns out, the Tigers didn't have much of an answer for 7'2 Luke Nevill after all.

UM:  Chancellor Robert Khayat has announced that he will be retiring at the end of June.  When you look at the support and backing he's given to projects involving Mississippi's athletic facilities, that should be sad news for Rebel fans.

"From the first time I met him, it was obvious that the chancellor was a man who had a vision," said Rebel basketball coach (and alleged cabbie-puncher) Andy Kennedy.

UM:  Houston Nutt got a $50,000 bonus for getting Ole Miss to the Cotton Bowl.  I'm sure that means a lot to a man who now makes $2.5 million per year.  Nothing like a little pocket change.

MSU:  Rick Stansbury says his team is as confident as can be heading into SEC play, having finally adjusted to the four-guard line-up he introduced in December.

MSU:  Ravern Johnson, who poured in 26 points against Western Kentucky on Monday, is one of the guys helping to build the Dogs' confidence.